JP4723998B2 - Printer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer having a roll storage unit that stores a roll sheet in a housing and an opening / closing member that opens and closes the roll storage unit.

  Conventionally, as portable information terminal devices for inputting and displaying data when performing business activities on the go have become widespread, for portable, small and lightweight printers that are driven by a built-in battery. Demand is increasing rapidly. In response to this demand, thermal printers are becoming popular because they are small in size, light in weight, and easy to handle.

  Such a thermal printer employs a system in which a printing sheet such as a roll sheet is inserted and printed between a thermal head and a platen roller. However, in this printing method, when loading a printing sheet, it is necessary to insert the leading end of the sheet between the thermal head and the platen roller, and the work operability is not good. Therefore, in recent years, there is an increasing demand for a thermal printer having a clamshell structure in which a lower cover and an openable upper cover are used and a platen roller is attached to the upper cover so that the front end of the print sheet does not need to be inserted at the time of loading.

  In addition, with the spread of small printers, there has been a demand to be able to deal with various sheets such as roll sheets, single sheet, and form paper on which a plurality of sheets are printed simultaneously.

  On the other hand, Patent Documents 1 and 2 are available for printing not only a roll sheet but also a sheet-like sheet such as a cut sheet. Patent Document 1 discloses a roll sheet holder provided in a roll sheet holder in a portable information processing apparatus with a printer, in which a roll sheet and sheet paper can be alternatively supplied with one feeding component. Yes. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a printer body that is provided with sheet insertion openings on the end surface, upper surface, and lower surface of the printer main body, and is compatible with a wide variety of printing sheets.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-96362 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-258553

  However, when printing a cut sheet with a conventional small-sized portable printer with a clamshell structure, the cut sheet is rolled into the roll sheet storage case, and in this case, it is easy to read with curling habits. There may be a problem. Further, the roll sheet case cover is opened and closed one by one, which causes a problem in workability.

  Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 1, since the sheet paper feeding port is opened upward, there is a problem in drip-proof performance when used outdoors. In addition, the device is increased in size in the longitudinal direction by the amount corresponding to the feeding port.

  Further, in the configuration described in Patent Document 2, the cut sheet is inserted from the insertion port on the upper surface, and there is a problem similar to that of Patent Document 1.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can print either a roll sheet or a cut sheet according to the application with a simple configuration.

  Another object is to provide a printer having drip-proof performance that can be used outdoors.

A typical means in the present invention for solving the above-described problems is that the open / close member is configured in a printer having a roll storage portion that stores a roll sheet in a housing and an open / close member that opens and closes the roll storage portion. An outer member and an inner member, and a holding means for holding the inner member at a first position with respect to the outer member and at a second position located on the inner side of the roll storage portion with respect to the first position. And the outer member is positioned outside the inner member when the inner member is in the first position and the second position, and the roll storage when the inner member is in the first position. The roll sheet stored in the section can be fed to the recording means by being conveyed through the sheet path, and when the inner member is in the second position, the sheet sheet can be inserted into the side of the housing Mouth formed In addition, a feeding shape is formed by the outer member and the inner member moved from the first position to the inside of the roll storage unit, and the cut sheet inserted from the feeding port is formed by the outer member and the It is guided by an inner member, and is conveyed along the sheet path and can be supplied to the recording means .

  According to the present invention, it is possible to selectively select the use of a roll sheet and a cut sheet sheet only by changing the position of the inner member of the opening / closing member without increasing the size of the apparatus.

  Next, a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

{Overall Printer Configuration}
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a clamshell printer that facilitates the loading of sheets such as roll sheets, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the printer. FIG. 3 is an explanatory perspective view showing a state in which the storage case is opened.

  The printer of this embodiment is a portable printer that can be carried. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 is covered with a casing 2, and a roll sheet storage unit 30 is formed therein. Yes. The roll sheet storage unit 30 is open at the top (see FIG. 3) and can be opened and closed by a storage case cover 4 which is an opening / closing member. That is, the roll sheet 3 can be exchanged by opening and closing the storage case cover 4.

  A discharge port 5 is formed at the tip of the storage case cover 4. On the sheet path 6, a thermal print head 7 as a recording unit, a platen roller 8 that conveys the roll sheet 3 at a position facing the print head 7, and a cutter 9 that cuts the roll sheet 3 are arranged. ing. Further, a drip-proof sheet 10 that prevents intrusion of water droplets such as rain from the discharge port 5 is disposed on the cutter 9.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the platen roller 8 is rotatably attached to a platen locking portion 11 on the side surface of the storage case cover 4 via a bearing portion 12. In the open state in which the storage case cover 4 is opened, the platen roller 8 is retracted from the print head 7 shown in FIG. 2, and the sheet path 6 is opened. That is, when the roll sheet 3 is replaced, the storage case cover 4 is opened to store the roll sheet 3, and then one end side of the roll sheet 3 is pulled out to the outside of the housing 2. By closing the storage case cover 4 in this state, the roll sheet 3 is set along the sheet path 6.

  Further, the storage case cover 4 is locked to the housing 2 by the lock portion 13. The lock portion 13 is configured, for example, in a lever-type hook shape or the like, and is attached to both the left and right sides of the storage case cover 4. When the storage case cover 4 is closed, an urging force is applied to the outside to be locked. The unlocking operation is performed according to the operation of the unlock levers 14 on both sides. The lock portion 13 can prevent the storage case cover 4 from opening when the printer 1 is subjected to a large force such as a drop impact, and can prevent troubles such as the roll sheet 3 spilling down. Any method may be used as a method of locking and releasing the storage case cover 4 with respect to the housing 2 as long as it has an effect on the cause of the opening of the storage case cover 4 such as a drop impact.

  The printer 1 includes a belt hook 15 and is attached to a user's belt, and has a function of being easily carried.

{Storage case cover configuration}
Next, the storage case cover 4 in this embodiment will be described in detail.

  Here, before describing the configuration of the present embodiment, FIGS. 4 and 5 show a clamshell printer in which the storage case cover 17 is formed of a single member, unlike the present embodiment. 4 is a perspective view, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view. In this way, when the storage case cover 17 is configured as a single member, when printing on a cut sheet, the cut sheet is wound into a roll and stored in the roll sheet storage unit 30. There is a possibility of wrinkles. Furthermore, convenience is remarkably inferior because it is necessary to open and close the storage case cover 17 each time a cut sheet is stored one by one.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the storage case cover 4 includes an outer case cover 18 that is an outer member and an inner case cover 19 that is an inner member. A lock portion 13 and a platen roller 8 are attached to the outer case cover 18. The inner case cover 19 accommodates the roll sheet 3 and the side surface portion 20 formed on the inner case cover 19 covers the roll sheet side surface 21.

  Further, both the outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19 are rotatably supported with a hinge portion 22 on the rear end side of the casing 2 of the printer 1 as a fulcrum. Here, although the coaxial fulcrum is used in the present embodiment, it is not necessary to be coaxial. The inner case cover 19 may be provided so as not to rotate but to move in parallel with the outer case cover. However, the configuration that rotates around a coaxial fulcrum as in this embodiment is the simplest.

  The outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19 are simultaneously opened and closed by operating the lock release levers 14 on both sides (see FIG. 3), and the roll sheet 3 is exchanged. Here, as shown in FIG. 6, holding means is provided on the inner surface of the outer case cover 18 and the outer surface of the inner case cover 19. The holding means holds the inner case cover 19 with respect to the outer case cover 18 at a first position described later and a second position different from the first position.

  The configuration of the holding means will be specifically described. The inner case cover 19 includes pin-shaped locking portions 23 provided on both sides, and the outer case cover 18 has a hole-shaped first engagement member provided on both sides. A stop 24 is provided. By engaging these, the inner case cover 19 is held so as to be interlocked with the opening / closing operation of the outer case cover 18. The locking portion 23 may be a rib-like protruding portion, and the first locked portion 24 is not only a through hole as shown in FIG. There may be. As described above, the state where the locking portion 23 is locked to the first locked portion 24 is the first position of the inner case cover 19.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the cut sheet 16 is used, the inner case cover 19 is rotated by applying a force so as to push it toward the inside of the printer 1. At this time, the outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19 are elastically deformed, the locking portion 23 is dropped from the first locked portion 24, the inner case cover 19 is turned inside, and the outer case cover 18 It is locked again by a hole-shaped second locked portion 25 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) provided on both sides. At this time, the elastic deformation of the outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19 is eliminated, and it is confirmed that the click feeling is obtained and the sheet sheet 16 is switched to the feeding state. Thus, the state where the locking portion 23 is engaged with the second engaged portion 25 is the second position of the inner case cover 19.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the inner case cover 19 is in the second position, a feeding port 26 into which the cut sheet 16 can be inserted is formed on the side of the apparatus. When the cut sheet 16 is inserted from the feeding port 26, it is conveyed to the print head 7 via the platen roller 8 as shown in FIG. At this time, a feeding shape 27 is formed by the outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19 so as to be conveyed to the sheet path 6 without any problem, and these form a sheet guide.

  When returning to use of the roll sheet 3, the outer case cover 18 with the locking portion 23 locked to the second locked portion 25 is opened together with the inner case cover 19, and the inner case cover 19 is pushed out from the inner side. Then, the position is switched to the position where the first locked portion 24 and the locking portion 23 are locked. When the inner case cover 19 is in the first position, the feeding port 26 is closed.

  When the printer 1 receives the print command, if the storage case cover 4 is set normally, the print head 7 feeds the print sheet of either the roll sheet 3 or the cut sheet 16 to the print sheet while the platen roller 8 feeds the print sheet. Printing is performed. Then, the printed print sheet is discharged from the discharge port 5. At this time, when the print sheet is the roll sheet 3, the print portion of the print sheet 3 is cut sheet by the user cutting the sheet with the cutter 9. As provided to the user.

  Next, an embodiment of a printer according to this embodiment having a drip-proof structure for use in rainy weather will be described. When the user uses the printer outdoors, the belt hook 15 is attached to the belt, so that the feed port 26 faces downward and the attached water droplets flow down, making it difficult for water droplets to enter the printer. Further, when the roll sheet 3 is used, the feeding port 26 is closed. 6 and 9, the roll sheet 3 is covered with side portions 20 on both sides of the inner case cover 19 and partition walls 28 on both sides of the housing. For this reason, the inner roll sheet 3 is not easily wetted by water droplets entering from the gap between the outer case cover 18 and the inner case cover 19.

  In the above-described embodiment, the thermal recording method is exemplified as the recording unit. However, the recording method is not limited to this, and other recording methods such as an ink jet recording method may be used.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a printer having a clamshell structure that facilitates loading of a sheet such as a roll sheet. FIG. 2 is an AA cross-sectional explanatory view of FIG. 1 showing the inside of the printer. It is perspective explanatory drawing which showed the state which opened the storage case. It is a perspective view of a printer in which the case cover is not constituted by an outer case cover and an inner case cover. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4, showing a printer in which the case cover is not composed of an outer case cover and an inner case cover. FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view in which an outer case cover 18 and an inner case cover 19 are separated. It is a perspective explanatory view when printing on a cut sheet. It is CC sectional explanatory drawing of FIG. 7 which shows the inside when printing on a cut sheet. It is DD sectional explanatory drawing of FIG. 1 which shows a drip-proof structure.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Printer 2 ... Housing 3 ... Roll sheet 4 ... Storage case cover 5 ... Discharge port 6 ... Sheet path 7 ... Print head 8 ... Platen roller 9 ... Cutter
10… Drip-proof sheet
11… Platen locking part
12… Bearing part
13 ... Lock part
14… Unlock lever
15 ... belt hook
17… Storage case cover
18… Outer case cover
19… Inner case cover
20… Side part
21… Roll sheet side
22… Hinge
23… Locking part
24… First locked part
25… second locking part
26… Feeding port
27… Feeding shape
30… Roll sheet storage

Claims (5)

In a printer having a roll storage unit that stores a roll sheet in a housing, and an opening / closing member that opens and closes the roll storage unit,
An outer member and an inner member constituting the opening and closing member;
Holding means for holding the inner member at a first position with respect to the outer member, and a second position located on the inner side of the roll storage portion with respect to the first position;
Have
When the inner member is in the first position, it is in a position where the roll sheet can be accommodated therein, and the outer member is outside of the inner member when the inner member is in the first position and the second position. Located in
When the inner member is in the first position, the roll sheet stored in the roll storage unit can be fed to a recording unit by being conveyed through a sheet path;
When the inner member is in the second position, a feeding port into which a cut sheet can be inserted is formed on the side of the casing, and the inner side of the roll storage unit from the outer member and the first position. A feeding shape is formed with the inner member moved to the sheet, and the cut sheet inserted from the feeding port is guided by the outer member and the inner member, and conveyed along the sheet path to the recording unit. A printer that can be supplied . A lock portion for locking the opening / closing member to the housing;
The printer according to claim 1 , wherein the outer member is locked to the housing by the lock portion. The said housing | casing has a hook member, and when the said housing | casing is latched by this hook member, the said sheet feeding opening is located in a housing | casing lower part, The Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Printer. The outer member and the inner member are rotatably supported with respect to the housing,
The holding means is configured such that a locking portion provided on the inner member selectively locks to a first locked portion and a second locked portion provided on the outer member. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The inner member printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that it has a side portion covering the rolled sheet housed in the roll housing part.

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